"The Lord Gave" - Job 1:21

Job 1

20 ¶  Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
21  And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
22  In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

We like Job entered this world with nothing and so like him all that we have is a blessing from the hand of God. Job credited God as the source of everything he possessed! "...the LORD gave..." (vv. 21) Every soul on this earth possesses more than what they entered the world with! Ultimately, we will will leave this world in the same manner we entered it...with nothing!

     Notice also that Job did not attribute his wealth and prosperity to his hard work or ingenuity.He gave God the glory for all that he possessed...including his sons and daughters! 

'I am so pleased to think that Job recognized the hand of God everywhere giving. He said, ‘The Lord gave.’ 

He did not say, ‘I earned it all.’ 

He did not say, ‘There are all my hard-earned savings gone.’' - Spurgeon

James 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

• Let's be reminded that a gift is something that is undeserved, it is something that is unearned. 
• Let's not forget that all that we have comes from God and therefore should be precious to us.

Because of this....

• It is unwise to boast in having more than what another has. (2Cor 10:2)
• It should be easy to give back to God when we really understand that all we have comes from Him and that we are giving out of His hand. "...for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee." 1Chr 29:14
• We must always remember to worship the Blesser and not the blessing! God is greater than the gifts He gives.
• Let's not forget that the Lord who gave us everything can also take it all away from us!

During Job's time of mourning and grief, he blessed the "name of the Lord" and worshiped God as he had done in the past. Job had no control over the circumstances, but he had control over his response to the circumstances of life!

It amazes me that after Job...

• lost his sons and daughters
• faced a financial reversal
• faced personal health problems
• faced criticism from his wife

....two times, the Lord's commentary was that Job did not sin nor did he charge God foolishly! (Job 1:22;2:10)

In James 5:11, God commends "the patience of Job" during his time of trial.

It is so much easier to praise, thank, and bless the Lord when we are on the mountaintop...it is so much harder to praise, thank, and bless the Lord when we are in the valley.

Let's not forget the Holy Spirit's admonition to the church....

1Thess 5:18 "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."